Overview:

This 4-day workshop is for practioners who use play therapy in their work with children who have experienced and disclosed abuse and neglect. We will address the use of expressive play therapy methods to help children, who have suffered from severe forms of neglect and interpersonal trauma, deal with the emotional, cognitive and behavioral issues that brought them to therapy. This presentation will explore the many ways of helping such children strengthen themselves and, time permitting, begin to heal their wounds and live more healthily in a reality that often cannot be changed.

Learning Objectives and Content:

• Theoretical principles of Holistic Expressive Therapy as related to the subject of neglect and interpersonal trauma.
   
• The crucial role of attachment and the effects of lack of and distortions of attachment caused by different forms of abuse.
   
• The effects of various forms of interpersonal trauma on the child’s development.
   
• Theoretical principles underlying the use of expressive therapies with abused and neglected children.
   
• Principles underlying the use of expressive play therapy with abused and neglected children.
   
• Identify and address the therapeutic needs specific to abused and neglected children.
   
• Provide a reparative experience that addresses the most basic needs of abused and neglected children , taking into their account emotional, cognitive and behavioural stage of development.
   
• Use of imagery and a variety of expressive therapies to help the children internalize the sense of safety experienced in the play sessions and develop positive memories to draw upon when needed.
   
• Expressive play therapy methods to help children safely deal with issues related to different forms of abuse (illustrated by slides).
   
• Viewing and discussion of videotaped excerpt illustrating how children who suffered from different forms of abuse and neglect use a play session to deal with such issues.

In the afternoons participants will be given the opportunity to practice and further explore the use of expressive play therapy with abused and neglected children through role plays and discussion of case concerns.

Expressive Play therapy, A Holistic and Integrative Approach or the equivalent is strongly recommended.

The Centre for Expressive Therapy is accredited both by the Association for Play Therapy Provider number (#95-010) and the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy, Provider number (#09-102) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy.